Molybdenum in Biology - An Essential Trace Element
Molybdenum transport in plants and animals
It is likely that molybdenum is taken up and transported in plants and animals in the form of the simple molybdate ion [MoO4]2-. In sheep [Scaife, 1956] molybdenum in the blood and urine is readily dialysable and is entirely anionic. A study of molybdenum toxicity in the microorganism Salmonella typhimurium has indicated that molybdate and sulfate are transported in the same system [McKillen and Spencer, 1970]. In this organism uptake of molybdenum and molybdenum toxicity are prevented by complexing of extracellular molybdate with L-cysteine and reduced glutathione. However, it has also been suggested that in the microorganism Aspergillus nidulans molybdenum is taken up in a phosphorylated entity and a carbohydrate [Arst et al., 1970; Arst and Cove, 1970]. The following chelating agents have been reported to be effective against molybdenum toxicity in mice (presumably because they coordinate with the molybdate ion): ethylenediaminetetraacetate, diethylenetriaminepentaacetate, unithiol and deoxycholate [Chem. Abs,1971]